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From Memri:
On February 3, 2007, Islamist websites posted a 23-minute audio recording by Emir Al-Muaminin (i.e. Commander of the Believers) Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi, whom Al-Qaeda has appointed "head of the Islamic State of Iraq." The recording, dated February 2, 2007 and titled, "Victory from Allah, Victory is Near," was issued by the Islamic State's media company Al-Furqan.
...The following are excerpts from his speech:
"We [hereby] inform the Sunnis of a [new] plan called the Plan of Honor, which is more comprehensive and more perfect [than the existing plan] and includes not only Baghdad but all parts of the Islamic State [of Iraq]... [This plan] will end with Bush announcing the failure of his [security] plan and signing an agreement of defeat... The goals of the plan are: to defend our people and our honor; to rout out the invaders and eradicate the remaining pockets and bases of heresy; to butcher the wounded Crusader tyrant and take advantage of the collapse of morale among [the Crusader] soldiers and commanders; to unite the ranks of the mujahideen and to strengthen the foundations of the Islamic State [of Iraq].
"Oh Muslim youths, remember the cut up bodies of the children, the voices of their bereaved [parents] and the anguished cries of the elderly. Let the volcano of your wrath burst forth. Burn the ground beneath the feet of the Jews and their helpers, eradicate their army, destroy their equipment, down their planes, ambush them in their homes, in the wadis and on the roads. Hide in the darkness of night and turn their morning into hell... We are not afraid of your coalitions...We have drunk blood [in the past], and we find no [blood] sweeter than that of the Byzantines [i.e. Christians]... Roast their flesh with car bombs, cut off their supply lines with [explosive] charges and tear out their hearts with sniper fire. Know that offense is the best [form of] defense, and be careful not to lay down your weapons before the war is over... We are not fighting out of nationalism, but with the aim of making Allah's word supreme.
Notice that Al-Baghdadi is banking on "Bush announcing the failure of his [security] plan and signing an agreement of defeat." He's banking on Congress to pull our troops out before their job is done. Congress must let the troops finish the job that they have fought so hard to accomplish.
Al-Baghdadi's approving reference to "drinking blood" underlines the evil of Al Qaeda. And notice that they say explicitly that they act according to their understanding of Islam: "We are fighting ... with the aim of making Allah's word supreme."
Muslims who say that Islam is a religion of peace, must speak out loudly and publicly, saying that people like Al-Baghdadi are not going to paradise. And if such Muslims do not speak out loudly and publicly and say that, we need to put them on the spot and ask them why they won't say so.
JIMMY CARTER AND THE KILLER RABBIT -- a tale from the Carter presidency.
